The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 871
BID: $OPDX.871
August 18, 2008
Editor Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW
Provided by BARF80.ORG (Cleveland, Ohio)

Thanks to the Northern Ohio Amateur Radio Society, Northern Ohio DX Association, Ohio/Penn PacketCluster Network, AB5K & the AR TelNet Clusters Network, The ARRL Letter, K1XN & GoList, NJ1Q, NG3K, W3UR & The Daily DX, N4AA & QRZ DX, K5XK, K8YSE, W0MM, DX-IS News Site, Pete's- DX-Newsdesk, 9A6AA, DK2WV, DK8JB, DL7MAE & The DX News Letter, EC7DND, F5NQL & UFT, F5OGL, I1JQJ/IK1ADH & 425 DX News, I1HYW, JI6KVR & IOTA-JA News, LA5YJ, RASE Dx, RSGB IOTA Web Site, TA3YJ, VA3RJ & ICPO and YO2DFA for the following DX information.

SPECIAL NOTES FROM EDITOR (by Tedd/KB8NW)
Major failure to my BARF80 Linux system happend this past week and items for the bulletin were lost. If you had an announcement that did not make it to print, PLEASE resend it. Current status of BARF80 is DEAD. However, thanks to my ISP (hamnet.org) I am still able to retrieve my mail and send the bulletin out (until a new Linux system can be found or put together). Hopefully, things will get back to normal soon.

Lastly, OPDX's Chief Proof-Reader, Linda my wife, will be going under the knife Monday to have her gall bladder removed. Please say a small prayer for her and hope for no complications during her procedure. I do not know what I would do without her. Get well messages can be sent after Monday at: lmsm54@hotmail.com

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT
According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 10th/August, through Sunday, 17th/August there were 208 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3B9, 3V, 3W, 3X, 4J, 4L, 4O, 4S, 4U1U, 4W, 4X, 5B, 5H, 5N, 5R, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7P, 7Q, 7X, 8P, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9M2, 9M6, 9V, 9X, 9Y, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C3, C9, CE, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, D4, D6, DL, DU, E5/s, E7, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EL, EP, ER, ES, ET, EU, EX, EY, EZ, F, FG, FK, FM, FO, FP, FR, FW, FY, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HI, HK, HL, HP, HR, HS, HZ, I, IS, J2, J3, J6, JA, JD/o, JT, JW, JX, JY, K, KG4, KH2, KH6, KL, KP2, KP4, LA, LU, LX, LY, LZ, OA, OD, OE, OH, OH0, OK, OM, ON, OX, OY, OZ, P2, P4, PA, PJ2, PY, PZ, R1FJ, S2, S5, S7, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV5, SV9, T5, T7, T8, TA, TF, TG, TI, TK, TN, TR, TU, TY, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V4, V5, V7, V8, VE, VK, VP2E, VP8, VP9, VQ9, VR, VU, XE, XT, XU, XW, XX9, YB, YI, YL, YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, ZA, ZB, ZC4, ZD8, ZF, ZL, ZP, ZS

* PLEASE NOTE: The report "could" contain "Pirate/SLIM" operations or more likely a "BUSTED CALLSIGN". As always, you never know - "Work First Worry Later" (WFWL).

5Z, KENYA
Valery, RW1AU, is now active as 5Z4/RW1AU from the 5Z4RS club station in Nairobi for the next several months. He is there on work assignment so his activity will be limited to his spare time. Activity this past week has been on 20 meters SSB. He is expected to operate CW once he finds a keyer. QSL via K5XK: Ron Evans, 2 Pembroke Drive, Bella Vista, AR 72715-8823.

9L, SIERRA LEONE
Dr. Karl-Heinz Ilg, DK2WV, will once again be active from here this time with a team of operators. Karl informs OPDX that in June this year, during his stay in Sierra Leone, he not only operated as 9L0W, but had the honor of speaking to the President of the University of Freetown. He was asked if he (and others) could conduct a course in Amateur Radio. In October and November this year Karl and his team will volunteer to help in the planning of the technical promotion and conduct training courses for those who are interested in Amateur Radio. Further- more, Karl will also present the university with materials and radio equipment.

All training and activity is plannned to take place in the time frame of October 21st to November 11th, 2008. They expect to operate during this time under the same callsign, 9L0W. The German participants mentioned are Roland/DJ4LK, Franz/DJ9ZB, Karl/DK2WV, Hans/DL1YFF and one 9L1 national. All participants have a solid background of several successful DXpeditions. Activity will be on 160-6 meters. They are planning to operate with up to 3 stations, with amplifiers and different antennas. The antennas are Spiderbeams and for the low-bands phased arrays, K9AY loops and/or beverages are planned as low-band receiving antennas. QSL via DK2WV, direct (SASE w/sufficient funds to cover the postage) or by the bureau. E-mail requests will be sent via bureau, including those arrived without adequate funds. The 9L0W team is looking for sponsors to help cover the high costs of nearly 14,000 USDs for this operation in addition to the air fares of the participants. They are depending on donations from DX organizations. If you have any questions, please send them via E-mail to: k.ilg@arcor.de

BT1, CHINA (Special Event Stations Still Active!)
The five special event stations continue to be active during the 2008 Beijing Olympics through September 17th. Each of the five different callsigns represent one of the 5 Olympic Games ring symbols: BT1OB for Beibei (blue), BT1OJ for Jingjing (black), BT1OH for Huanhuan (red), BT1OY for Yingying (yellow) and BT1ON for Nini (green). Activity will be on 160-10 meters using SSB, CW, and RTTY. The contacts can be used to apply for a "Beijing Olympics Award". Also look for operations on SSTV, PSK, the satellites, EME, and possibly other modes. Contacts using these modes will not be valid for the award. The QSL Manager for these special event stations is BA4EG, by the Bureau or direct. QSL cards will be sent out starting October 2008. A Web site is now active with news updates, station setup, logs, award info and QSL status, at

DXCC NEWS (DXCC YEARBOOK)
The ARRL Letter reports: "DXCC Yearbook Includes Corrected DXCC Honor Roll: According to DXCC Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, the 2007 Honor Roll list published in the August 2008 issue of QST was inadvertently produced from a 'corrupted report feature' in the DXCC software. 'Since the DXCC Honor Roll report is too large for a line-by-line review, random samplings [of the list] were checked and many [listings] were found to be okay,' Moore said. 'It was not until the complete report was published that we found the report had more errors than originally thought. Publishing a simple correction in an upcoming issue of QST is not possible.

We have expanded the 2007 DXCC Yearbook to accommodate a complete reprint of the 2007 Honor Roll list. This is something many of you have suggested in previous years. The 2007 Honor Roll list will also be published on the DXCC Web site and this list will be separate from the current 'live' online Honor Roll list.

We regret any inconvenience caused by this and we appreciate your patience and understanding.' The 2007 DXCC Yearbook is the largest ever, with an additional 16 pages, and features articles about the year's DXing activities, the Clinton B. DeSoto Cup and DXCC Challenge standings. The DXCC Yearbook is mailed free to all ARRL members who have submitted a DXCC application between January 1 and December 31 of the prior year or are current on the DXCC Honor Roll. Copies are also available for 5 USDs plus postage. To get your issue, please send an E-mail to the ARRL DXCC desk dxcc@arrl.org."

ED7, SPAIN (IARU VHF Contest Op)
Members of the Group Amateur Radio RASE Dx will be participating in the IARU VHF Contest (REG1) as ED7URD from September 6-7th. They will be transmitting from the Sierra Filabres (2.168m, Locator IM87), Almeria, Spain. In addition to their activity in the IARU VHF Contest, they will have two stations to put into the air on 50 MHz, as well as various tests on 1200 MHz using the callsign EA7URD/P. The team will consist of Jesus/EB7BMV, Jose/EB7COL, Manolo/ EA7IHV and Jose/EC7DND. QSL via EA7URD, by the bureau or direct. Photos, log and details of the operation will be on the Web at:

HC5, ECUADOR (Update/Change)
Operators Hiro/JA6WFM, Nobuo/JA6GCE, Morita/JA6SOV and Naomi/JM6EBU will be active as HC5WW (not HD2A as previously announced) during the CQWW DX SSB Contest (October 25-26th), as a Multi-Single entry. QSL direct only to JA6VU.

IOTA NEWS
AS-083. Vasily, RA9LI/9, is now active from meteorological station in the Arctic Ocean on Belyy Island (RRA RR-06-04, RDA YN-14) for an unknown length of time. He was heard on 14166 kHz this past week between 1530-1830z. This is valid for the Arctic Challenge Award. QSL via UA9LP.

EU-016. Tom, 9A2AA, is now active as 9A73AA/p from Korcula Island for about the next two weeks. Activity has been on 20 meters SSB and 40 meters CW. He is also expected to activate other nearby islands as 9A2AA/p. QSL via his home callsign, direct or by the bureau.

EU-017. Marco, IZ3GNG, will be active as ID9/IZ3GNG from Lipari Island (IIA ME-001, MIA MI-053, WLOTA LH-1144), August 20-22nd. QSL via his home callsign, direct or by the bureau.

EU-088. Bernd, DL8AAV, will be active as OZ/DL8AAV/p from Laeso Island (NK-003 for the Danish Islands Award), September 16-27th. QSL via his home callsign, direct or by the bureau.

EU-090. Operators Simon/IZ7ATN and Alessio/IZ0CKJ are now active as 9A/homecall/p from the Vela Palagruza on Palagruza Islands between now and August 23rd. Activity will be from the light- house there. Operations over the past weekend were on 20 meters SSB. They are expected to activate nearby islands (such as Galijula and Mala Palagruza). QSL via their home callsigns.

EU-127. Operators Karl/DJ5KK, Thorsten/DG7TG and Wolf/DK3KD will be active as DA0HEL from Helgoland Island (N-14 for the German Islands Award, WLOTA LH-0518), September 6-8th. They will be taking part in the IARU VHF Contest on 2 meters CW/SSB. Look for them outside of the contest on the HF bands. QSL via the DARC Bureau.

EU-170. Lada, OK1LO (aka 9A5LO), will be active as 9A5LO from the following Croatian islands (all count as EU-170) between August 18-27th: Pasman (IOCA CI-085), Ugljan (CI-134), Galovac (CI-604) and Osljak (CI-081). Activity will be on 160-10 meters using CW, SSB, PSK31 and RTTY. Equipment: Rigs: IC-706MKIIG (100w), FT-817ND (5w); Tuners: AT-180, AH-4, MFJ 941E; ANTs: dipole 2x 15m (160-10m); FD-4 (80-10m); GP-3 WiMo (10-15-20m) and LW 38m.

NA-234. Gianni, I1HYW, reports that a 10 minute video on the Web on the recent Chuginadak Island DXpedition by the Russian Robinson Club is available on YouTube at:

KP2, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS (NA-106)
Jaime, WP3A, will be active as KP2B from St. Croix, after August 20th. Activity will be on 40/20/15/10 meters CW, with some SSB on 15/10 meters. Look for him on 40 meters after 0400z and after 1100z on the other bands. He also plans to be active in both the CQWW DX SSB Contest (October 25-26th) and CQWW DX SSB Contest (November 29-30th) as a Single-Op/All-Band entry. QSL direct to EA7FTR.

KP5, DESECHEO (In Case You Missed It!)
Over the past few weeks there has been speculation of an upcoming operation to Descheo Island (KP5) to take place in November. This bulletin is to provide the DX community with the actual facts on what has been going on and what will possibly happen.

Several DX publications were notified about two months ago that the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) had decided to allow certain amateur radio operators who have made an inquiry about operating from Desecheo in the recent past an opportunity to submit a proposal (approximately 20 individuals). OPDX and others were told to NOT publish anything in fear of jeopardizing the process. As of this time, "NO ONE" has been selected to operate from KP5. The following information was provided by an "informed source" to bring everyone up-to-date and explain what events took place:

"There is a tentative agreement to facilitate access to the Desecheo Island National Wildlife Refuge by Amateur Radio operators in conjunction with future USFWS management activities in the refuge. The plan would allow Amateur Radio activation of Desecheo for up to 14 days under strict guidelines and close USFWS supervision.

USFWS expects to grant a Special Use Permit (SUP) for amateur radio operations to one group selected from among large number of prior applicants. These applicants have recently been contacted by the agency and provided a number of stringent requirements that must be met. They were told that if they are still interested in operating from Desecheo they had 45 days to submit a proposal. The letter was dated June 30, 2008, with an August 14th deadline. The final selection will be made based upon which proposal best satisfies USFWS requirements. The timing of this operation is still uncertain but is likely to be in the September through December 2008 time frame. The actual dates of the operation are dependent on a number of variables, but the team and Dxers should have a minimum of 30 days notice.

We are not sure, but we believe as many as a dozen proposals have been submitted. Apparently, the final selection will be made by a three person panel. Continue to remain patient as the selection process proceeds. Apparently, Dxers worldwide can look forward to the first USFWS-authorized activation of Desecheo Island in many years."

M, ENGLAND (EU-005)
Nilay Mine/TA3YJ and Berkin/TA3J will be active as M/TA3YJ and M/TA3J from London between September 10-17th. QSL via TA3YJ QSL Service

P2, PAPUA-NEW GUINEA (Three IOTAs to be Activated!)
Operators Al/AD6E, Derek/G3KHZ. Hugh/K6HFA, Luis/CT1AGF and Skip/W5GAI plan to activate three IOTAs between October 17th and November 5th. Their tentative plans are:
OC-181 - Garove Island; October 20-26th; callsign P29VLR; QSL via SM6CVX.
OC-041 - Hermit Island; October 28th-November 3rd; callsign P29NI; QSL via G3KHZ.
OC-025 - Manus Island; November 4th; callsign to be determined;
QSL via K6HFA.
PLEASE NOTE: Hugh, K6HFA, will stay longer on Manus between November 4-9th. For more details, log search and pictures, please see the following Web page at:

QSL INFO AND NEWS
NOT THE QSL MANAGER. Nilay, TA3YJ, reports that she is NOT the QSL Manager for 6W1SJ, TB0DX and TG9NX.

QSL STATUS FOR S21XF, 9N7YJ, MI0YJR, ST2YJ, JW5YJ, XU7ACW. Hugo, LA5YJ, informs OPDX readers of the following: "The cards for the S21XF operation is on its way, should arrive within a day or two, and will be dealt with accordingly. The log is available on:

Remember, SAE and one IRC or equivalent. If you have sent a card via the bureau please do not send any cards again; they have all been replied to. Thank you all for your cooperation.....
Kind regards, LA5YJ Hugo B. Ark, (Rute 509, N-1766 HALDEN, Norway)"

QSLS VIA LOTW: FH1LE and TF/DL3PS

QSLS RECEIVED VIA MAIL: C91OK

QSLS RECEIVED VIA THE BUREAU: None reported this week!

TN, CONGO
Nicolas, F8FQX, will be in Brazzaville for the next 3-4 years starting on August 20th. His activity will probably not start until late October or early November. Nicolas has applied for a callsign and is hoping to receive TN5SN. Activity will be on 160-6 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK31. QSL via IZ1BZV. Look for updates and a log search on:

TO4G, GLORIOSOS
Didier, F5OGL, Gloriosos 2008 team leader, announced on August 13th, that he wanted to stop the spreading of "numerous rumors" by non authorized hams about the dates of the next Gloriosos 2008 DXpedition. He states, that on the island, the anti-cyclonics shelters building are nearly finished and the French Army sovereignty personels and the return of the building workers will take place at the end of this month.

At the beginning of September, after the last checkings on the installations, especially the electrical work, all the heavy building gear will be evacuated from the island. Didier states that he is "in very close contact with the military authorities of the French Forces for the South zone" in the Indian Ocean.

He has also met the new HQ Chief Warrant Officer before he started his new 3 year assignment in the zone. He assured Didier of "support and help for this expedition". The only problem they have is local logistic, especially the dates for the use of military planes flights and boat departures. He assures that all the necessary authorizations are in hand. Didier states, "Believe us about our will to do a most perfect as possible DXpedition to the Glorioso. For that, safety first is our goal."

All operators are personels of the French Military Defense, and they all have professional assignments which has priority over all, including the DXpedition. No civilian operators are allowed in the crew. Currently there are NO fixed dates for this operation, but Didier is doing his best to lead a DXpedition to Gloriosos before the end of this year. He also states, "It must be said that without all combined elements gathered, I prefer postponing the operations as often as it will be necessary. I continue to work hard to put the Gloriosos on the air and know that's not very easy..... 73's de Didier, F5OGL"

V4, ST. KITTS (NA-104)
Dave, AH6HY, will be active as V4/AH6HY between September 26th to October 3rd. Activity is planned for 40-10 meters SSB only. QSL via his home callsign.

VK9, WILLIS ISLAND (Update)
Excerpts from the VK9DWX Web site state that the DX team has been busy last week testing all antennas and getting nearly everything ready to ship. Dale, VK4DMC, got all their tents and also tested them. So they are ready to be built on Willis Island City. All the heavy items and Peli Cases were brought together in Goch at the location of DR1A where a workshop was set up. On a 5-day-weekend, Markus/DJ7EO, Jorg/DL8WPX, Dieter/DL8OH and Chris/DL1MGB put all the material into boxes, cases and tubes, labeled them and prepared the shipping documents. The week after the material was transported to the harbor of Hamburg where it is now waiting for being shipped to Australia. In total they packed 29 cases, boxes and tubes with a total weight of over 1,300kg. This included the following main items:

       			    5 ACOM1000 amplifiers
                            Over 1000m of coax cable
                            Nearly 300m of power cable
                            All antennas
                            Power distributions
                            Tools
                            Most parts of the station equipment...

YO DX HF CONTEST
Ovidiu, YO2DFA, informs that the Romanian Amateur Radio Federation (FRR) is inviting all radio amateurs all over the world to participate in the annual YO DX HF Contest, August 30-31st (from 1200- 1200z). Rules can be found on the following Web page at:

ZD9, TRISTAN DA CUNHA ISLAND (Update/Possible Change Of Plans!)
The QSL Manager W0MM reports that Tom's, ZD7X (KC0W), last day on St. Helena was August 11th. Since September 2007, Tom made over 45,000 QSOs on the HF bands. Tom was expected to go to Tristan da Cunha after St. Helena (see OPDX.854), however, it seems "there is a 90% chance of no Tristan right now". Reasons were not given, but reportedly there is "bunch of reasons!". If ZD9 does not happen, Tom is planning to go to Qatar (A7) and will apply for a licence there. If A7 does not work out, he will then head to Asia. Stay tuned!

ZP, PARAGUAY
Operators Jan/DL7UFN and Rolf/DL7VEE will be active as ZP6/homecall from Tom's ZP5AZL/ZP0R station, September 4-14th. Activity will be on 160-10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and some PSK. QSL via his home callsign.

ZS8, MARION ISLANDS
There is still no activity reported. For updates and the first offical announcement of ZS8T being on the air, please visit the official ZS8T Web site at:

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